ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State closed out the three game series against Southern Arkansas on Sunday afternoon. After trailing late in the game the Rangers used a seven run 8th inning to spark the comeback off a three run home run by Connor Green. Northwestern closed out the series victory 14-8 over the Muleriders.

The Rangers improve to 16-11 on the season with a 7-8 conference record, as Southern Arkansas falls to 15-10 with a 9-6 conference mark.

Northwestern led in hits by Chad Green with four hits driving in one run. Connor Green and Hagen Barcello led the team with a 3-RBI game each. Gavin Mendoza had a team high three runs scored in the game. 

Jacob Fuller got the start throwing five innings striking out four batters. Jacob Shaw finished the game throwing 1 ? innings striking out four Southern Arkansas hitters to earn his first win of the season. 

Southern Arkansas started the game with a lead off triple to open up a strong offensive afternoon for both teams. The following hitter Matsuzaki hit an RBI single driving in the run for an early 1-0 lead. The Muleriders scored a second run on a wild pitch before a solo home run pushed the game to 3-0 through the top of the inning. 

The Rangers answered back after a lead off single by Dylan Bradford led to a two run home run by Carson Wright to cut the deficit to 3-2. After a Mendoza walk this led to a Chad Green RBI double to right center field to tie the score at 3-3.

After a strong opening inning for the offense each team went down in order before Southern Arkansas regained the lead in the third. A lead off walk followed by an error led to an unearned run scoring on an RBI ground out for a 4-3 visitors lead.

Northwestern again answered back fast this time taking the Rangers first lead of the game after a single from Connor Green and walk to Mendoza. This led to a 3-run home run to take a 6-4 lead over Southern Arkansas in the third. 

Southern Arkansas was able to strike back to tie the game in the fifth inning after a double and an error led to back to back sacrifice flies to tie the game at 6-6 in the fifth inning. Ranger had two runners reach but Southern Arkansas worked around the jam keeping the game tied at 6-6. 

The Muleriders took the lead for the third time in the game after loading the bases with nobody out. A fielder's choice ground out allowed the lead run to score and take a 7-6 lead, before the Rangers escaped further damage. 

Northwestern tied the game in the seventh inning on a Southern Arkansas throwing error after a Mendoza single. He scored on the error tying the score at 7-7 after the seventh inning. 

Southern Arkansas regained the lead after a double to left field led the inning off before an RBI single scored Shoup for the 8-7 lead. Jacob Shaw allowed a walk before working around the bases loaded jam to not allow another run to score after a strikeout and a pop up to third.

Northwestern struck big in the eighth inning after drawing back to back walks from Bradford and Wright. This led to a 3-run home run to steal the lead at 10-8. The Rangers were not done as after a double and a single led to an RBI single by Colby Grace for the 11-8 lead. Northwestern continued to hit as Zach Vetal and Harley Shaffer followed with RBI singles as the Rangers lead grew to 14-8 after the eighth inning.

Shaw closed out the 14-8 victory over Southern Arkansas in the ninth inning working around two base runners and completing the series victory. 

Northwestern now plays eight straight games on the road starting on Tuesday, March 18th against Oklahoma Panhandle State, before a three game series in Bethany against Southern Nazarene on March 28th-29th.

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